Saturday, February 25
Palmer, Alaska
All Day
University of Colorado
vs
20K Classical
Photo by: Tobias Albrigtsen
Buffs Fifth, But Goals Accomplished, At RMISAs
February 25, 2023 | Skiing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—The final of six days of racing in Alaska are now complete, and while the team results weren't what was expected, the overall goals were accomplished by the Colorado Buffaloes Ski Team with 20K classic races closing out the week here Saturday at Government Peak.
Hanna Abrahamsson picked up a podium appearance in the women's race taking third and Anna-Maria Dietze was just behind her in fourth while the men were led by Will Koch in ninth and Magnus Boee in 11th.
Entering the week, the Buffs had one goal on their minds, to qualify a full team for the NCAA Championships and improve seeding spots along the way for better starting positions while in Lake Placid in two week's time.
Mission accomplished.
Highlighted by Elena Exenberger sliding into the final women's alpine qualification spot on the final run of the season, just about every Buff who skied improved their position. The Buffs can only take 12 skiers to NCAAs, three in each gender and discipline, but a total of 17 Buffs qualified for the championships. Teams will be finalized Monday and announced on Tuesday by the NCAA.
Behind Abrahamsson and Dietze, Karolina Kaleta finished 17th as the Buffs third team scorer just ahead of Elena Grissom in 18th place. On the men's side, Alexander Maurer was the third team scorer in 14th with Oyvind Haugan just behind in 16th place.
WHAT IT MEANS
While the team results weren't up to par for the Colorado Buffaloes, those results were secondary to qualifying for the NCAA Championships. At the end of the day, nobody will remember a fifth place finish at the RMISA Championships if you win an NCAA Championship. The goal is to win both, but some years you come in needing to improve your chances at NCAAs over winning a regional or conference title.
UP NEXT
The season for a majority of the Buffs is now over, with only 12 being able to ski for CU at the NCAA Championships. The Buffs return to Boulder with some skiers headed east earlier than others to take part in a few races ahead of NCAAs. The Championships will take place March 8-11 in Lake Placid, N.Y., with alpine events at Whiteface Mountain and Nordic events at Mt. Von Hovenberg.
QUALIFICATION NOTES:
RMISA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STANDINGS (FINAL)—1. Utah 600.5; 2. Denver 566.5; 3. Montana State 563; 4. Alaska Anchorage 480; 5. Colorado 450; 6. Alaska Fairbanks 320; 7. Westminster 292.5; 8. Nevada 141.5; 9. Colorado Mountain 116.
MEN'S 20K CLASSICAL (33 collegiate finishers)—1. Andreas Kirkeng, DU, 58:15.7; 2. Mike Ophoff, UAF, 58:32.4; 3. Tom Mancini, UU, 58:33.6; 4. Bernhard Flaschberger, 58:36.0; 5. Samuel Hendry, UU, 58:41.6; 6. Christopher Kalev, UAF, 58:47.1; 7. Brian Bushey, UU, 58:51.0; 8. Luke Jager, UU, 58:57.3; 9. Will Koch, CU, 59:00.0; 10. Peter Hinds, UAA, 58:58.7. Other CU Finishers: 11. Magnus Boee, 59:00.0; 14. Alexander Maurer, 59:01.0; 16. Oyvind Haugan, 59:33.1; 22. Luka Riley, 1:00:41.4; 29. Fredrik Nilsen, 1:02:51.3. Did Not Finish: Hugo Hinckfuss.
WOMEN'S 20K CLASSICAL (28 collegiate finishers)—1. Novie McCabe, UU, 1:04:09.0; 2. Marial Pulles, UAF, 1:05:07.5; 3. Hanna Abrahamsson, CU, 1:05:39.9; 4. Anna-Maria Dietze, CU, 1:06:17.1; 5. Kendall Kramer, UAF, 1:06:22.3; 6. Selma Andersen, DU, 1:06:27.3; 7. Celine Mayer, UU, 1:06:53.4; 8. Sophia Mazzoni, MSU, 1:07:41.9; 9. Anna Pryce, MSU, 1:07:52.8; 10. Kate Oldham, MSU, 1:07:55.2. Other CU Finishers: 17. Karolina Kaleta, 1:09:09.7; 18. Elena Grissom, 1:09:42.5; 28. Kili Lehmkuhl, 1:16:15.9.
Hanna Abrahamsson picked up a podium appearance in the women's race taking third and Anna-Maria Dietze was just behind her in fourth while the men were led by Will Koch in ninth and Magnus Boee in 11th.
Entering the week, the Buffs had one goal on their minds, to qualify a full team for the NCAA Championships and improve seeding spots along the way for better starting positions while in Lake Placid in two week's time.
Mission accomplished.
Highlighted by Elena Exenberger sliding into the final women's alpine qualification spot on the final run of the season, just about every Buff who skied improved their position. The Buffs can only take 12 skiers to NCAAs, three in each gender and discipline, but a total of 17 Buffs qualified for the championships. Teams will be finalized Monday and announced on Tuesday by the NCAA.
Behind Abrahamsson and Dietze, Karolina Kaleta finished 17th as the Buffs third team scorer just ahead of Elena Grissom in 18th place. On the men's side, Alexander Maurer was the third team scorer in 14th with Oyvind Haugan just behind in 16th place.
WHAT IT MEANS
While the team results weren't up to par for the Colorado Buffaloes, those results were secondary to qualifying for the NCAA Championships. At the end of the day, nobody will remember a fifth place finish at the RMISA Championships if you win an NCAA Championship. The goal is to win both, but some years you come in needing to improve your chances at NCAAs over winning a regional or conference title.
UP NEXT
The season for a majority of the Buffs is now over, with only 12 being able to ski for CU at the NCAA Championships. The Buffs return to Boulder with some skiers headed east earlier than others to take part in a few races ahead of NCAAs. The Championships will take place March 8-11 in Lake Placid, N.Y., with alpine events at Whiteface Mountain and Nordic events at Mt. Von Hovenberg.
QUALIFICATION NOTES:
- Hanna Abrahamsson (women's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 3 overall skier from the RMISA and the No. 2 seed in classical and No. 6 in freestyle.
- Alex Birkner (men's alpine) qualifies as the No. 26 skier from the RMISA, 10th alternate, and is the No. 18 seed in GS and No. 33 in slalom.
- Magnus Boee (men's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 6 overall skier from the RMISA and the No. 6 seed in classic and No. 9 in freestyle.
- Anna-Maria Dietze (women's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 5 overall skier from the RMISA and the No. 3 seed in freestyle and No. 9 in classic.
- Jacob Dilling (men's alpine) qualifies as the No. 4 overall skier from the RMISA, and is seeded No. 2 in GS and No. 3 in slalom.
- Elena Exenberger (women's alpine) qualifies as the No. 17 and final skier from the RMISA and is seeded No. 15 in slalom and No. 17 in GS.
- Louis Fausa (men's alpine) qualifies as the No. 11 overall skier from the RMISA, and is seeded No. 7 in slalom and No. 8 in GS.
- Filip Forjtek (men's alpine) qualifies as the No. 9 overall skier from the RMISA and is seeded No. 5 in GS and No. 10 in slalom.
- Elena Grissom (women's Nordic) qualifies as the no. 22 overall skier, sixth alternate, from the RMISA and the No. 23 seed in freestyle and No. 21 in classic.
- Emma Hammergaard (women's alpine) qualifies as the No. 7 overall skier from the RMISA and is seeded No. 5 in GS and No. 10 in slalom.
- Kaitlyn Harsch (women's alpine) qualifies as the No. 16 skier from the RMISA and is seeded No. 12 in slalom and No. 21 in GS.
- Oyvind Haugan (men's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 19 seed form the RMISA, fourth alternate, and No. 22 seed in classic and No. 15 in freestyle.
- Hugo Hinckfuss (men's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 14 seed from the RMISA and the No. 12 seed in classic and No. 18 in freestyle.
- Karolina Kaleta (women's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 16 overall skier, third alternate, from the RMISA and the No. 17 seed in freestyle and No. 13 in classic.
- Weronika Kaleta (women's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 9 overall skier from the RMISA and the No. 12 seed in freestyle and No. 8 in classic.
- Will Koch (men's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 13 overall skier from the RMISA and the No. 11 seed in classic and No. 17 in freestyle.
- Alexander Maurer (men's Nordic) qualifies as the No. 20 overall skier, fifth alternate, from the RMISA and the No. 15 seed in classic and No. 24 in freestyle.
RMISA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STANDINGS (FINAL)—1. Utah 600.5; 2. Denver 566.5; 3. Montana State 563; 4. Alaska Anchorage 480; 5. Colorado 450; 6. Alaska Fairbanks 320; 7. Westminster 292.5; 8. Nevada 141.5; 9. Colorado Mountain 116.
MEN'S 20K CLASSICAL (33 collegiate finishers)—1. Andreas Kirkeng, DU, 58:15.7; 2. Mike Ophoff, UAF, 58:32.4; 3. Tom Mancini, UU, 58:33.6; 4. Bernhard Flaschberger, 58:36.0; 5. Samuel Hendry, UU, 58:41.6; 6. Christopher Kalev, UAF, 58:47.1; 7. Brian Bushey, UU, 58:51.0; 8. Luke Jager, UU, 58:57.3; 9. Will Koch, CU, 59:00.0; 10. Peter Hinds, UAA, 58:58.7. Other CU Finishers: 11. Magnus Boee, 59:00.0; 14. Alexander Maurer, 59:01.0; 16. Oyvind Haugan, 59:33.1; 22. Luka Riley, 1:00:41.4; 29. Fredrik Nilsen, 1:02:51.3. Did Not Finish: Hugo Hinckfuss.
WOMEN'S 20K CLASSICAL (28 collegiate finishers)—1. Novie McCabe, UU, 1:04:09.0; 2. Marial Pulles, UAF, 1:05:07.5; 3. Hanna Abrahamsson, CU, 1:05:39.9; 4. Anna-Maria Dietze, CU, 1:06:17.1; 5. Kendall Kramer, UAF, 1:06:22.3; 6. Selma Andersen, DU, 1:06:27.3; 7. Celine Mayer, UU, 1:06:53.4; 8. Sophia Mazzoni, MSU, 1:07:41.9; 9. Anna Pryce, MSU, 1:07:52.8; 10. Kate Oldham, MSU, 1:07:55.2. Other CU Finishers: 17. Karolina Kaleta, 1:09:09.7; 18. Elena Grissom, 1:09:42.5; 28. Kili Lehmkuhl, 1:16:15.9.